Automotive door straightening jig



p 1959 F. HALES 2,903,259

AUTOMOTIVE DOOR STRAIGHTENING JIG Filed May 8, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ferron Hales 1N VEN TOR.

Sept. 8, 1959 F. HALES 2,903,259

AUTOMOTIVE DOOR STRAIGHTENING JIG Filed May 8, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ferran Hales INVENTOR.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 Fig. 5

F. HALES AUTOMOTIVE DOOR STRAIGHTENING JIG Ferr'an Hales INVENTOR.

.ittltttttttr Eh Sept. 8, 1959 Filed May a, 1956 United States Patent We AUTOMOTIVE DOOR STRAIGHTENING JIG Ferron Hales, Springville, Utah Application May 8, 1956, Serial No. 583,564

8 Claims. (Cl. 269- 156) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in work holders, and more specifically to an improved automotive door straightening jig.

In order to straighten doors of automobiles, the door, if badly bent or otherwise damaged, is removed from the automobile and is then either placed upon a suitable work bench or rested on an edge on the floor of the garage in order that the bodyman may have access to the various portions of the door to be straightened. Such a procedure normally requires one hand of the bodyman to support the door while the other hand is being used in straightening process. This is obviously undesirable and inefficient. It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an automotive door straightening jig which is so constructed whereby it will support an automotive door to be straightened in such a manner whereby the door is positioned to suit the bodyman and at the same time he has both hands free to perform the straightening operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved automotive door straightening jig, the jig being so constructed whereby it may be readily adjusted in size to accommodate doors of all types and sizes.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved door straightening jig which is provided with suitable support arms for supporting the door, there being associated with the support arms suitable adjustable clamps whereby the door may be rigidly clamped to the support arm and retained in place thereby.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved straightening jig for automotive doors, the jig being so constructed whereby compound movement thereof is possible so that the door may be supported in any desired position.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the door straightening jig which is the subject of this invention and shows the general details thereof, various positions of the door straightening jig being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2--2 of Figure 1 and shows the specific details of one of the door retaining clamps;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the door straightening jig and shows mounted therein an automotive door, the door being illustrated by dash-dot lines, an extended position of the support arms of the door straightening jig being also shown. by broken lines;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through the center of the door straightening jig and shows the specific details of the construction thereof; 7

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated .by the section line Patented Sept. 8, 1959 55 of Figure 4 and shows the details of the means for retaining the support plate of the door straightening jig in an adjusted position;

Figure 6 is an enlarged elevational view of a modified form of door clamp for clamping doors of hard top type automobiles in place; and

Figure 7 is an end view of the clamp of Figure 6 and shows further the details thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated the door straightening jig, which is the subject of this invention, the jig being referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The jig 10 includes a suitable base 12 which is anchored to a floor 14 by means of suitable bolts 16. Extending upwardly from the central portion of the base 12 is a standard is. The standard 18 is reinforced with respect to the base 12 by suitable gussets 2d and 22, the gussets 2% being disposed at opposite sides of the standard 18 and the gusset 22 being disposed at the rear thereof.

in order to further support the standard 18, there is secured to the upper rear part of the standard 18 a suitable support bracket 24. The support bracket 24, as is best illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, includes a central portion 26 secured to the upper part of the standard 18. Extending outwardly from opposite ends of the central portion 26 are diverging legs 23 which terminate in flanges 39. The flanges 36 are secured to a suitable wall structure 32 by means of bolts 34.

Suitably secured to the upper end of the standard 18 is a horizontal sleeve 36 which extends in a longitudinal direction. The sleeve 36 has journaled therein a pin 33 for rotation. The pin 35 is provided at one end thereof with a flange 4%) to prevent rearward movement of the pin 38 through the sleeve 36. Secured to the rear end of the pin 38 by means of a bolt 42 is a retaining washer 44.

Secured to the flange 4d of the pin 38 by welding 46 is an upper part of a support plate 48. As is best illustrated in Figure 5, the support plate 48 is generally semicircular in outline. The support plate 48 is vertically disposed and has secured to the upper edge thereof by means of welding 5% a transverse shaft 52. As is best illustrated in Figure 3, the transverse shaft 52 extends outwardly of the opposite edges of the support plate 48.

Slidably and pivotally mounted on opposite end portions of the transverse shaft 52 are fittings 54. The fittings 54- are of the split collar type and include clamping fasteners 56 for retaining them in adjusted positions on the transverse shaft 52. Carried by each fitting 54 is an elongated, longitudinally extending support arm 58. The support arms 58 are transversely spaced a distance to accommodate the particular door, such as the automobile door 61, which is to be straightened. As is best illustrated in Figure 3, the support arms 53 are moved to wards each other or apart to the necessary positions.

The support arms 53 are of a size to normally support the average automotive door. However, in the case of extra high doors, the support arms 58 are made tubular and have telescoped therein suitable extension sections 60. By extending the extensions as out of the support arms 58, the effective lengths of the support arms 58 may be greatly increased.

The support arms 58 are braced with respect to each other remote from the transverse shaft 52 by means of a connecting shaft which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 62. The connecting shaft 62 includes a first tubular shaft 64- which has telescoped therein a shaft 66. The end of the tubular shaft 64 remote from the shaft 66 is provided with a clamp type fitting 68 which includes a clamp fastener 70. The fitting 68 is slidably mounted on one of the support arms 58 and is clamped thereon in an adjusted position. The shaft 66 is provided with a similar fitting 72 which includes a clamp fastener 74. The fitting 72 is adjustably mounted on the other of the support arms 58.

In order that the support arms 58 may be retained in parallel relation, at least a portion of the tubular shaft 64 is split longitudinally of its length. A suitable clamp fastener '76 is carried by the free end portion of the tubular shaft 64 so as to clamp the shaft 66 in an adjusted telescoped position.

In order that the support arms 58 may be braced against rotation about the transverse shaft 52, there is provided a suitable brace assembly which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 78. The brace assembly 78 includes a generally U-shaped member 80 having a central portion 82 and forwardly extending legs 84 which diverge. The central portion 82 is clamped against the forward face of the support plate 48 by means of a pair of transversely spaced U-fasteners 86. It is to be understood that the central portion 82 will be free to rotate within the U-fasteners 86, particularly when the U-fasteners are slightly loosened.

The bracket assembly 78 also includes leg extensions 88 which are telescoped over the legs 84. The leg extensions 88 are split longitudinally of their length and provided with suitable clamp fasteners 90 to retain them in adjusted positions. The forward ends of the leg extensions 88 terminate in clamp fittings 92 which include clamp fasteners 94. The clamp fittings 92 are adjustably clamped on the tubular shaft 64 and the shaft 66.

In order that the door 61 may be suitably clamped in place, there is provided a support bracket which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 96. The support bracket 96 is carried by the central part of the transverse shaft 52 and includes a vertical flange 98 which is secured to the transverse shaft 52. The support bracket 96 also includes a horizontal flange 100 which extends forwardly from the vertical flange 98.

The upper surface of the horizontal flange 100 is provided with a suitable padding 182.

Cooperating with the support bracket 100 is a clamp assembly which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 104. The clamp assembly 104 includes a mounting bracket 186. The mounting bracket 106 has a vertical flange 168 whose lower edge is suitably secured to the upper edge of the support plate 48. The bracket 106 also includes a horizontal flange 110 which overlies the horizontal flange 180. The horizontal flange 110 is provided with a boss 112 which is internally threaded and which has threadedly engaged therethrough a threaded member 114. Carried by the lower end of the threaded member 114 is a clamp plate 116 having suitable padding 118 on the underside thereof. A handle 120 is carried by the upper end of the threaded member 114 to facilitate rotation thereof into a clamping position.

Adjustably carried by the support arms 58 are adjustable clamps which are referred to in general by the reference numeral 122. As is best illustrated in Figure 2, each adjustable clamp 122 includes a mounting bracket which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 124. The mounting bracket 124 has a vertical flange 126 which terminates at its lower end in a generally circular portion 128, the circular portion 128 terminating in an upwardly directed flange 138 which is disposed 'parallel to the flange 126. Extending between and connecting together the flanges 126 and 130 is a clamping fastener 132. The support arm 58 is received in the circular portion 122 and the mounting bracket 124 is clamped thereon by means of the clamping fastener 132. The mounting bracket 126 also includes a horizontal flange 134.

Threadedly engaged in the horizontal flange 134 and .passing downwardly therethrough is a threaded member 136. The lower end of the threaded member 136 is provided with a clamping plate 138 having a suitable lpadding 140 secured to the underside thereof. The

- 4 threaded member 136 is provided at its upper end with a suitable handle 142.

Referring now to Figure 1 once again, it will, be seen that the support plate 48 and the various components carried thereby may be inverted merely by rotating the support plate 48 through the means of the pin 38. Thus the door 61 may be selectively inverted, stood on the end or any desired angle through rotation of the support plate 48 about a horizontal axis. In order that the support plate 48 and the components carried thereby may be retained in a selected rotated position, there is formed in the rear surface of the support plate 48 a groove 144. Positioned in the groove 144 is a spring retaining member 146 which is secured to the standard 18. If desired, a suitable cam member may replace the spring 146.

As is also best illustrated in Figure 1, the support arms 58may be rotated about the transverse shaft 52 so that the door 61 may slope downwardly away from the support plate 48. This is accomplished by varying the length of the brace assembly 78 or by sliding the fittings 68 and 72 along the support arms 58.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7 in particular, it will be seen that thereis provided a modified form of clamp which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 148. The clamp 148 is intended to be used in conjunction with the straightening jig 10 for supporting doors of hardtop type bodies. The clamp 148 includes a retaining bracket which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 150. The retaining bracket 150 is shaped to have a vertical flange 152 which terminates in a right angle flange 154 which is connected by means of a bight portion 156 to an elongated flange 158 which is disposed in parallel relation to the flange 154. The flange 158 is elongated as compared to the flange 154 and extends beyond the same to provide suitable hooking structure.

The clamp 148 also includes a fitting which is referred to in general by .the reference numeral 160. The fitting 160 includes a body portion 162 which is rotatably secured to the flange 152 by means of a fastener 164. The body portion 162 terminates in a sleeve 166 having a pin 168 extending therethrough. The sleeve 166 has a central portion thereof removed and disposed therein is an eye portion 170 of a threaded member 172. Passing through the eye 170 and pivotally connecting the threaded member 172 to the fitting 160 is the pin 168.

Slidably mounted on the upper part of the threaded member 172 is a clamping plate 174 having a depending lip 176 at a free end thereof. The clamping plate 174 is retained in an adjusted position on the threaded member 172 by means of a wing nut 178 which bears against the upper side thereof.

When the clamp 148 is utilized in conjunction with a door of a hardtop type vehicle, the retaining bracket 150 is slipped over an edge portion of a door, such as is illustrated in Figure 6. The clamping plate 174 is engaged with one of the support arms 58 and the door is clamped against that support arm. It is to be understood that when the clamp 148 is utilized, the clamp 122 will be removed from the support arms 58.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A door straightening jig comprising a standard, a vertically disposed support plate, means mounting said support plate on said standard for rotation about a horizontal axis, a transverse shaft secured to an upper part of said support plate and extending to opposite sides thereof, longitudinal support arms pivotally mounted on said shaft for movement in a vertical plane, a connecting shaft connecting together said support arms remote from said transverse shaft, a brace assembly extending between said connecting shaft and a lower portion of said support plate, door retaining clamps slidingly connected to said support arms, said brace assembly including telescoping sections whereby said support arms may be disposed at an angle to the horizontal, and means for selectively locking said sections in various adjusted positions.

2. A door straightening jig comprising a standard, a vertically disposed support plate, means mounting said support plate on said standard for rotation about a horizontal axis, a transverse shaft secured to an upper part of said support plate and extending to opposite sides thereof, longitudinal support arms pivotally mounted on said shaft for movement in a vertical plane, a connecting shaft connecting together said support arms remote from said transverse shaft, a brace assembly extending between said connecting shaft and a lower portion of said support plate means for varying the length of said brace assembly and thereby selectively positioning said support arms at selected angles with respect to said support plate, door retaining clamps, said door retaining clamps including a fixed clamp carried by said support plate, and adjustable clamps slidably carried by said support arms.

3. A door straightening jig comprising a standard, a vertically disposed support plate, means mounting said support plate on said standard for rotation about a horizontal axis, a transverse shaft secured to an upper part of said support plate and extending to opposite sides thereof, longitudinal support arms pivotally mounted on said shaft for movement in a vertical plane, a connecting shaft connecting together said support arms remote from said transverse shaft, a brace assembly extending between said connecting shaft and a lower portion of said support plate, door retaining clamps slidingly connected to said support arms, cooperating means on said support plate and said standard for retaining said support in a rotated position.

4. A door straightening jig comprising a standard, a vertically disposed support plate, means mounting said support plate on said standard for rotation about a horizontal axis, a transverse shaft secured to an upper part of said support plate and extending to opposite sides thereof, longitudinal support arms pivotally mounted on said shaft for movement in a vertical plane, a connecting shaft connecting together said support arms remote from said transverse shaft, a brace assembly extending between said connecting shaft and a lower portion of said support plate, door retaining clamps carried by said jig, means slidably mounting said support arm on said transverse shaft and said connecting shaft being extensible whereby the spacing between said support arms may be varied to accommodate doors of different widths, said brace assembly including telescoping sections whereby said support arms may be disposed at an angle to the horizontal.

5. A door straightening jig comprising a standard, a vertically disposed support plate, means mounting said support plate on said standard for rotation about a hori zontal axis, a transverse shaft secured to an upper part of said support plate and extending to opposite sides thereof, longitudinal support arms pivotally mounted on said shaft for movement in a vertical plane, a connecting shaft connecting together said support arms remote from said transverse shaft, a brace assembly extending between said connecting shaft and a lower portion of said support plate, door retaining means carried by said jig, means slidably mounting said support arm on said transverse shaft and said connecting shaft being extensible whereby the spacing between said support arms may be varied to accommodate doors of different widths, said support arms including telescoped extensions whereby doors of various lengths may be supported.

6. A door straightening jig comprising a standard, a vertically disposed support plate, means mounting said support on said standard for rotation about a horizontal axis, a transverse shaft secured to an upper part of said support plate and extending to opposite sides thereof, longitudinal support arms pivotally mounted on said shaft for movement in a vertical plane, a connecting shaft connecting together said support arms remote from said transverse shaft, a brace assembly extending between said connecting shaft and a lower portion of said support plate, door retaining clamps, means slidably mounting said support arms on said transverse shaft and said connecting shaft being extensible whereby the spacing between said support arms may be varied to accommodate doors of different widths, said door retaining clamps including a fixed clamp carried by said support plate, and adjustable clamps slidably carried by said support arms.

7. A door straightening jig comprising a standard, a vertically disposed support plate, means mounting said support plate on said standard for rotation about a horizontal axis, a transverse shaft secured to an upper part of said support plate and extending to opposite sides thereof, longitudinal support arms pivotally mounted on said shaft for movement in a vertical plane, a connecting shaft connecting together said support arms remote from said transverse shaft, a brace assembly extending between said connecting shaft and a lower portion of said support plate, door retaining clamps carried by said jig, means slidably mounting said support arms on said transverse shaft and said connecting shaft being extensible whereby the spacing between said support arms may be varied to accommodate doors of different widths, said brace assembly including telescoping sections whereby said support arms may be disposed at an angle to the horizontal, said support arms including telescoped extensions whereby doors of various lengths may be supported.

8. A door straightening jig comprising a standard, a vertically disposed support plate, means mounting said support plate on said standard for rotation about a horizontal axis, a transverse shaft secured to an upper part of said support plate and extending to opposite sides thereof, longitudinal support arms pivotally mounted on said shaft for movement in a vertical plane, a connecting shaft connecting together said support arms remote from said transverse shaft, a brace assembly extending between said connecting shaft and a lower portion of said support plate, door retaining clamps, means slidably mounting said support arm on said transverse shaft and said connecting shaft being extensible whereby the spacing between said support arms may be Varied to accommodate doors of different widths, said brace assembly including telescoping sections whereby said support arms may be disposed at an angle to the horizontal, said door retaining clamps including a fixed clamp carried by said support plate, and adjustable clamps slidably carried by said support arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,472,425 Patrick et al Oct. 30, 1923 1,507,815 Cumner Sept. 9, 1924 1,764,812 Talley June 17, 1930 2,188,433 Friese Jan. 30, 1940 2,301,636 Nicol Nov. 10, 1942 2,312,914 Koszeghy Mar. 2, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 329,723 Germany Nov. 30, 1920 

